Zach Skiles
Zach Skiles, PsyD, is a former Marine and psychologist. As an Iraq veteran, he has experienced several cultural mandates. With over a decade of clinical experience serving veteran communities, his skills have been dedicated foremost to trauma-related treatments.
When helping start the first PTSD clinic in South Sudan for veterans and family members of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, Dr. Skiles developed an interest in community-based group interventions and traditional healing modalities. Starting in the US as a peer counselor for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, he trained as a clinical psychologist within the Northern California VA and Northern Arizona VA while also facilitating psycholytic and psychedelic-assisted therapies for individuals and groups of US Special Forces communities at The Mission Within.
Resident Psychologist
As a postdoctoral fellow at University of California San Francisco, Dr. Skiles supported a number of psychedelic trials as a facilitator & researcher. Acting as the primary therapist and clinical assessor with the Social Neuroscience and Psychotherapy (SNaP) Lab at the Portland VA, Dr. Skiles facilitated trials of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder and MDMA-assisted group psychotherapy for PTSD.
Currently, he proudly acts as the resident psychologist with Illuminating Heroes, serving veterans, first responders & their community members. Dr. Skiles is also the resident psychologist for Heroic Hearts Project, supporting wellness retreats for veterans and spouses with ayahuasca and psilocybin. His work continues as a therapist, serving Special Forces communities with ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT with The Mission Within, while acting as a facilitator & educator for Heal Ukraine Trauma.
As an educator with the Center of the Science of Psychedelics at UC Berkeley, and the California Institute of Integral Studies, his focus aligns military and veteran culture with traditional medicine practice.
nt of The Illuminating Co., Megan's role transcends her professional responsibilities. Their partnership is grounded in a shared vision and commitment to The Illuminating Co.'s mission. Together, Megan and Justin form a foundation of strength and inspiration, propelling the organization in its noble endeavor to guide individuals toward resilience, recovery, and renewal.